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It's that time of year when homes and businesses are gearing up for Halloween. Read the full article "So fun, it's scary" to find family-friendly events going on in the area.

Looking for something safe, fun and family-friendly to do this Halloween? If so, you've got a few good options in the area.

Haunted Halloween Village

For the fourth year in a row, the historic Pioneer Village grounds in Perham will undergo a spooky transformation to become the Haunted Halloween Village.

Planned and presented by the East Otter Tail County Historical Society, this year's event has been expanded to include a week's worth of activities.

Starting this Wednesday, Oct. 24, and continuing through Halloween, the grounds and haunted house will be open nightly from 7-10 p.m. The local Dreams for Kids group will offer haunted hayrides every evening, and hot chocolate and hot cider will be served in the café.

Extra activities will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27. The grounds will open at 10 a.m. that day and a bake/craft sale will be going on all day, at no cost to visitors.

DJ Dracs (as in Dracula) will be playing Saturday, as well, and local businesses have volunteered to decorate the grounds. A 'traveling trophy' and other prizes will be awarded to those who decorate the best.

"Saturday we'll be having a big Halloween party," explained Bonnie Lee, president of the historical society. "We're trying to do a little more this year."

People are also invited to set up their own "haunted hovels" on Saturday, said Lee. These could be cars, trucks, trailers or other spaces specially decorated and set up on the village grounds for Halloween. Some may be 'trunk-or-treating' - handing treats out to kids - out of their hovels during the trick-or-treating time from 5-7 p.m.

Lee said she was excited to see what people would come up with: "It's going to be fun to see the creativity that people in Perham have."

All events will be free to the public until the haunted house opens at 7 p.m. Tickets for the haunted house are $5 per person.

For more information on the events, or on setting up crafts or a haunted hovel, call Bonnie Lee at 841-0010.

Trunk or Treat

Perham Community Alliance Church will present its annual Trunk or Treat event on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 5:30-7 p.m.

Cars will line up all around the edge of the church parking lot, and kids and families can go from trunk to trunk to get Halloween treats.

This is the ninth year the church has organized the event, said Kay Morris, and usually between 500-800 kids take part every year.

Hot cider and popcorn will be served inside the church.

Parties in New York Mills

On Saturday, Oct. 27, Halloween parties in New York Mills will give kids a chance to dress up and hang out together.

Parties for preschool through high school ages will be held at different time slots throughout the day.

Costumes are always encouraged, but not required.

A preschool through second grade party will be held at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center from 3-5 p.m. Parents are asked to accompany their children at this event, allowing kids to explore different age appropriate crafts and games.

Mills Lanes and Lucky Strike Grill will host two Halloween parties: third through sixth grade from 5-7 p.m., and seventh through 12th grade from 8-10 p.m. Music will be turned up and each youth can bowl one free game.

Special prices will be available for all other games. There will also be some prizes given away. Activities are sponsored by the NY Mills Civic and Commerce Association.